Chapter 4

Even my father, a seasoned veteran of the business world, had said, “The Grants are good, honest folk. I’ll feel at ease if you marry Matthew.”

However, when my mother-in-law saw Matthew walk in with a beaming Claudia, she was the first to run over to receive them.

“You must be Claudia. You’re so pretty. I’m sure you’re a good girl. Matthew, you have to treat her right. Don’t mistreat her.”

My usually stern father-in-law set down his newspaper and patted Matthew’s shoulder with a pleased look on his face.

“You have good taste. It’s clear that she’s very fertile. We do need a woman who can give birth to a son in the family.”

It was at this moment that I understood. They hated me for having given birth to a daughter. They wanted someone to pass down the family name.

Meanwhile, Claudia seemed really proud of herself. In a seemingly unintended fashion, she jutted out her belly and said delicately, “Don’t worry. Matthew has brought me to the hospital to check. I’m perfectly fine and can definitely give birth to a son.”

“That’s great!”

My in-laws smiled and wanted to give Claudia gifts. They also forgot about Dulcie, since she was apparently an eyesore.

Matthew’s other relatives surrounded them and kept praising them.

Amid the ruckus, I could hear one of Matthew’s uncles clapping his hands. He was the one who had borrowed more than two million dollars from us. He said, “You’re amazing, Matthew! This is what a man of the Grants should be like!”

One of Matthew’s aunts clapped while wiping her tears away. I had used my connections to send her daughter to study abroad.

“This is great! I like Claudia, you know! She seems down-to-earth.”

There was also Matthew’s cousin, Nick. He had multiple failed businesses, and I was the one who had to keep using my family’s resources to help him secure connections. He was so excited that he stood up and toasted Matthew.

“Matthew, Claudia, I hope you two are happy forever and have children soon.”

I had helped all of them before. They had benefitted from me and owed me, but at this very moment, no one remembered that I existed. None of them mentioned my name.

Piper, Matthew’s aunt, wiped away her tears and grabbed Dulcie before pushing her in front of Claudia. She said, “Stop daydreaming. Call her ‘Mommy’!”

“That’s right.” Olivia, Matthew’s mother, finally remembered Dulcie and tried to shove Dulcie into Claudia’s arms. “Dulcie, call Claudia your mother.”

Dulcie stared at Matthew’s family in panic and shook her head rapidly. “I don’t want to. She’s not my mother. My mother is Tina Clark. Grandma, I want my real mother. Can’t you ask Mommy to pick me up?”

She had naively thought that Olivia would help her if she asked. But Olivia’s face turned cold as she pinched Dulcie’s ear instead.

“What on earth are you saying? Claudia is your mother! Say it!”

Patrick, Matthew’s father, glared at Dulcie in disgust and did not bother hiding his displeasure.

“Look at your daughter, Matthew. She has no manners at all!”

Claudia bit down on her lip and collapsed into Matthew’s arms, as if she could not stand straight. She looked at him, hurt.

“Matthew, does Dulcie not like me?”

His heart ached for her, and Matthew hugged her and comforted her. “No. She’s still young and immature. Once we get married, you can make her do whatever you ask. I won’t interfere.”

When I saw this, I opened the door, unable to stop myself anymore.

As I watched their expressions drop, I put on a fake smile. “Isn’t this a family dinner? Why didn’t you ask me to join when I’m Matthew’s wife?”